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bbc.com
Car park firm NCP collapses with nearly 700 jobs at risk
The car park operator says demand for parking has not recovered to pre-Covid levels, as its administrators look to sell the business.
theguardian.com
UK mortgage rates jump, and petrol prices rise, amid ‘Trumpflation’ worries; Oil price falls as Bessent says US is letting Iran ship its crude – business live
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsTell us: has the conflict in the Middle East affected your household or business costs?Starmer to announce support for households hit by energy price spikeShares in airlines are dropping this morning, as the rising oil prices pushes up their fuel costs.British Airways’ parent company, IAG, and budget airline easyJet are both down 2%, among the top risers on the FTSE 100 index. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
European markets regain footing as oil prices remain in focus
European stocks pared some early losses on Monday morning as the ongoing unrest in the Middle East and elevated global oil prices weighs on investor sentiment.
cnbc.com
Nebius jumps 14% after company inks $27 billion infrastructure deal with Meta
Meta is planning capital expenditure of up to $135 billion related to AI this year.
theguardian.com
Chinese-owned Syngenta to build new £100m bioscience hub in UK
Agrichemical group will open a research centre in Berkshire, in a move hailed by UK government as ‘clear’ vote of confidenceBusiness live – latest updatesSyngenta is to build a new £100m research centre for agricultural bioscience, a move hailed by the government as a vote of confidence in the UK’s science base.The Chinese-owned company, one of the biggest agrichemical groups in the world, will open the centre at its Jealott’s Hill site in Berkshire to host hundreds of scientists. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Sobering times: alcohol-free beer added to UK inflation basket
Hummus and pet grooming also join list of goods and services used to help judge the impact of rising pricesBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK’s increasing sobriety will be recognised from next month in the basket of goods used to calculate inflation after alcohol-free beer was added to a list by the Office for National Statistics totalling 760 items.Hummus and pet grooming were also included in the list of goods and services used to help judge the impact of rising prices on the cost of living. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
U.S. is allowing Iranian oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz, says Bessent
The White House believes tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will increase before Navy escorts are deployed, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
bbc.com
Starmer announces £53m support to help with heating oil costs
The money will be for "vulnerable" households who have faced a sharp rise in energy bills since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran.
bbc.com
What is happening to gas and electricity prices?
Typical household bills will fall by 7% when the new energy cap takes effect on 1 April 2026.
cnbc.com
Trump-Xi China summit may be delayed if Trump wants to stay in Washington for Iran war: Bessent
Trump's visit, scheduled for March 31-April 2, would be the first for a U.S. president since he went to the country in 2017.
theguardian.com
European takeover battle hots up with UniCredit’s ‘unfriendly attack’ on Commerzbank
Milan-based bank plans to up its near-30% stake in German lender to trigger formal talks despite strong opposition from BerlinBusiness live – latest updatesTwo European banking powerhouses have become embroiled in a €35bn (£30bn) takeover battle after Italy’s UniCredit stepped up its long-running pursuit of German lender Commerzbank, despite strong opposition from the German government.UniCredit first took a stake of 9% in Commerzbank in September 2024 and has since built up its holding to just under 30%. It said on Monday it was pushing to increase that holding further and push the rival lender into formal merger talks. Continue reading...
bbc.com
How the Iran war may affect your money and bills
The conflict in the Middle East could raise the cost of petrol, household energy bills and even food.
cnbc.com
Strait of Hormuz standoff puts supply of America's generic drug prescriptions at risk
Half of US generic drugs are made in India and transit the Strait of Hormuz. Supply chains prepare for emergencies, but prescription stockpiles are limited.
cnbc.com
Meta stock climbs nearly 3% on report of planned layoffs to offset AI spending
Meta is planning capital expenditure of up to $135 billion in AI-related costs in 2026, which raised investors' fears around unsustainable spending.
cnbc.com
Asia-Pacific markets mixed as oil prices stay elevated amid escalating U.S.-Iran tensions
Asia-Pacific markets were mixed as investors continued to monitor elevated oil prices and the latest developments in the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict.
cnbc.com
China talks up oil sufficiency as Trump seeks Beijing's help on securing Hormuz energy route
The statistics bureau said that China's energy supply is "relatively strong," while announcing an uptick in domestic production.
cnbc.com
Oil’s war-driven volatility pulls in record retail money, fueling 'meme-style' trading
Net retail buying of oil ETFs hit a record $211 million on March 12, surpassing the previous peak seen during the market turmoil in May 2020, according to Vanda Research.
cnbc.com
Oil prices fall as Trump pressures allies to help protect tankers in Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. strikes on Kharg Island and Trump's threat to hit Iran's oil infrastructure mark a major escalation in the war, according to JPMorgan.
theguardian.com
Mayor unveils £1.5bn ‘People’s Network’ transport plan for South Yorkshire
Trams, buses and hire bikes will be integrated under molten orange and asphalt black livery highlighting industrial heritage, says Oliver CoppardBusiness live – latest updatesSouth Yorkshire’s transport system will be known as the “People’s Network”, with trams, buses and hire bikes all coming under public control.The plan was unveiled on Monday by the region’s mayor, Oliver Coppard, Continue reading...
cnbc.com
'We will remember': Trump warns countries to help secure Strait of Hormuz as shipping stalls
Trump's comments come after he called on several countries to send warships so as to secure the critical waterway
cnbc.com
Why the United Arab Emirates is a target for Iran's aggression
Iran is looking to test a state that has positioned itself as the Gulf's safest bridge between East and West — and the future of the region.
bbc.com
PM says UK working with allies on plan to reopen Strait of Hormuz
It comes after President Trump urged the UK and other countries to send warships to protect the vital shipping channel.
bbc.com
Companies offered £3,000 to hire jobless under-24s
It comes as ministers grapple with spiralling unemployment rates among young people.
bbc.com
Soaring heating oil bills 'pressuring' finances
People in south-west England say the cost could be the "straw that breaks the camel's back".
bbc.com
Iran hits key UAE oil port and Dubai airport
The port of Fujairah plays a crucial role in helping keep global supplies moving when the Strait of Hormuz is blocked.
theguardian.com
‘Like a DVD in the present tense’: are we ready for film distribution via USB drives?
As big tech continues to dominate the film industry, Video StoreAge is a uniquely crafted company that works with film-makers to sell independent films on USB drivesThe streaming-skeptical cinephile faces a dilemma in 2026, especially when it comes to watching movies at home. Increasingly, movies are available via rentals that funnel money to mega-corporations including Amazon or Apple; digital “purchases” from those same companies that can actually be revoked at any moment; or, most enticingly but still somewhat inconveniently, well-curated physical media special editions that treat films with the respect they deserve (sometimes even respect they don’t, depending on the title) while taking up a lot of shelf space and hitting your wallet hard. Plus, as vinyl aficionados know, bespoke physical media can also be severely limited in terms of where you can actually play it. Basically, almost everyone in the home-video space is trying to either be Amazon or the Criterion Collection.Ash Cook, the former Sundance programmer who founded the new distributor Video StoreAge (pronounced like “storage”), is trying to figure out a third way. He described Video StoreAge’s products – indie movies sold on USB drives – as “like a DVD in the present tense. It’s a way to have a physical copy of a movie, but in this case you can play it on your computer. It has digital utility.” Like almost anything else these days, Video StoreAge is available as a subscription, with quarterly collections of five features and five shorts. The first drop includes Vera Drew’s buzzed-about The People’s Joker, a homemade superhero comedy that reappropriates many elements of the Batman mythos into a trans coming-out story. (Honestly, it’s more fun than those Joaquin Phoenix movies and might understand the Joker character better, too.) But they also sell single films, including Drew’s, or any combinations of available films as a sort of digital indie-movie mix tape on those format-flexible USB drives. (The quarter’s shorts package is included with every movie regardless, an automatic special feature.) Continue reading...
cnbc.com
UniCredit to strengthen stake in Commerzbank to 30% laying groundwork for potential takeover
UniCredit launched a voluntary takeover offer for Commerzbank on Monday, drawing opposition from Commerzbank and the German government.
bbc.com
Alcohol-free beer and pet grooming used to measure inflation
Houmous and motorhomes are also added to the basket of goods and services used to chart the rising cost of living.
theguardian.com
‘Another internet is possible’: Norway rails against ‘enshittification’
Absurdist video urges policymakers and users to resist deliberate deterioration of platforms and devicesThe video’s opening shot shows a man hiding under a bed snipping in a hole in someone’s sock. Seconds later, the same man uses a saw to shorten a table leg so that it wobbles during breakfast. “My job is to make things shitty,” the man explains. “The official title is enshittificator. What I do is I take things that are perfectly fine and I make them worse.”The video, released recently by the Norwegian Consumer Council, is an absurdist take on a serious issue; it is part of a wider, global campaign aimed at fighting back against the “enshittification”, or gradual deterioration, of digital products and services. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Dubai International Airport resumes 'limited' flights after drone attack
Dubai International Airport resumed a limited flight schedule Monday morning after a drone attack hit a fuel depot, causing a fire.
cnbc.com
UAE’s Fujairah oil trading hub targeted by a drone attack, causing large fire
It comes after a separate drone strike at Fujairah on Saturday, underlining the vulnerability of the UAE's only export route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.
theguardian.com
Thames Water lenders float new £10bn rescue plan
Latest effort involves paying off fines worth hundreds of millions of pounds as part of bid to stave off financial collapseBusiness live – latest updatesThames Water’s lenders have put forward a £10bn rescue plan that would involve paying off the troubled water company’s hundreds of millions of pounds-worth of fines for leaks and pollution, as part of an effort to stave off financial collapse.A group of private equity firms and investment groups said they would inject about £3.35bn of cash into Thames Water and raise £6.65bn in debt, in exchange for the company not falling into a government-handled administration, in effect a temporary nationalisation. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Big Tech purchases of carbon credits explode amid AI race, with Microsoft leading the way
Carbon credit purchases by Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft skyrocketed in 2023, based on tracked purchases.
cnbc.com
Op-ed: Why my interview with Russia's ambassador to the U.K. reflected a stark global picture
While Andrey Kelin was a gracious host, I realized I'd heard his answers to my questions many times before.
theguardian.com
Google scraps AI search feature that crowdsourced amateur medical advice
Exclusive: Revelation comes as company faces mounting scrutiny over use of AI to provide health tipsGoogle has dropped a new artificial intelligence search feature that gave users crowdsourced health advice from amateurs around the world.The company had said its launch of “What People Suggest”, which provided tips from strangers, showed “the potential of AI to transform health outcomes across the globe”. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Ships stranded at Hormuz, energy crunch at home: How India’s U.S.-Israel tilt is testing ties with Iran
India’s U.S.-Israel tilt is costing it leverage with Iran just as its ships struggle to get safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
cnbc.com
Trump’s warning over Kharg Island raises the stakes for Iran’s oil exports
Trump's decision to order strikes on Kharg Island has pushed one of the world's most critical oil hubs into the center of the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict.
theguardian.com
Virgin Holidays rep told me to pay for hotel after Iran war forced flight cancellation
We were stranded as flights were cancelled, but the travel company didn’t seem aware of our rightsWe are holidaymakers stranded in Mauritius by the conflict in the Gulf. Our return flight, booked as part of a Virgin Holidays package, was routed via Dubai and was cancelled.We were advised by Virgin’s local representative that we should arrange and pay for accommodation ourselves until flights resumed, and reclaim it on our travel insurance. Only after we challenged this position did Virgin agree to cover hotel costs. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Strait talk from Trump
President Donald Trump voices frustration at the lack of help from allies in supporting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.
bbc.com
Steelworks costing £1.3m a day to run
The government spent £377m to keep British Steel's Scunthorpe site operating, according to a report.
theguardian.com
TV tonight: inside Facebook and Meta with ex-staff and whistleblowers
Marianna Spring goes Inside the Rage Machine. Plus: the finale of the brilliant comedy Small Prophets. Here’s what to watch this evening9pm, BBC Two“My goal is to not get sued,” says Matt Motyl, a former senior staff researcher at Facebook and Meta. He is one of the ex-employees who give reporter Marianna Spring the inside story of how social media giants have profited from algorithms that perpetuate divisiveness and hate. She also studies whistleblower documents, the arrival of TikTok and charts how events such as the pandemic and the Southport riots played out across various platforms. Hollie Richardson Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Holiday spending, export demand drive China’s economic momentum as Iran war headwinds loom
Beijing tamped down its GDP growth target this year to a range of 4.5% to 5%, the least ambitious goal on record going back to the early 1990s.
theguardian.com
High levels of debt on essential UK bills are the ‘new normal’, warn campaigners
Average arrears for housing, utilities and council tax for low-income households all rose last yearHigh levels of debt on essential bills have become the “new normal” for many low-income households, the charity StepChange said on Monday, with average arrears for housing, utilities and council tax all going up last year.People’s budgets have been stretched in recent years as they have faced higher prices for many goods and services, and the crisis in the Middle East has led to concerns over a new wave of increases. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Trump claims he has ‘absolute right’ to impose new tariffs after supreme court blow
US supreme court has ‘ransacked’ the country, president argues, in wake of its ruling against his trade agendaDonald Trump has claimed he has “the absolute right” to impose new tariffs after the US supreme court ruled many of the import duties he imposed last year were illegal.The president attacked the court in a late night broadside on Sunday, accusing it of having “unnecessarily RANSACKED” the US – and failing to show him sufficient loyalty. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Oil infrastructure under threat as Iran war rages on?
Iran's critical oil export hub Kharg Island is now in U.S. President Donald Trump's sights, with Trump threatening strikes on the island's oil infrastructure.
cnbc.com
JD.com takes on Amazon in Europe as China's e-commerce titans expand globally
JD.com is pushing same-day delivery and international brands as a way to help it compete with Amazon.
bbc.com
Ukraine's urgent fight on the financial frontline
The war-torn country is battling to secure crucial funding from the IMF and EU, as well as putting up taxes.
theguardian.com
UK housing costs rise 41% over five years for renters and owners, study shows
Borrowers coming off fixed deals hit hard as Savills says big spike in interest payments made up half the overall rise UK households spent a record £226bn to keep a roof over their heads last year, figures showed on Monday, with mortgage borrowers finishing fixed-rate deals particularly hard hit by rising payments.Overall housing costs have gone up by £66bn over the past five years, a rise of 41%, the property group Savills said. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Starmer to announce support for households hit by energy price spike
Prime minister expected to set out tens of millions of pounds in help for heating oil users as conflict with Iran drives up costsKeir Starmer will on Monday announce tens of millions of pounds’ worth of support for Britons hit by a spike in energy prices as a result of the Iran war.The prime minister will lay out the plans during a press conference in Downing Street on Monday, during which he will also take aim at some suppliers of heating oil for price gouging. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump weighing options to strike Iran's critical oil hub, UN Ambassador Waltz says
Israel says it has killed two senior Iranian intelligence officials as oil loading reportedly resumes in the UAE's Fujairah port following a fire.
bbc.com
Starmer speaks to Trump about importance of reopening Strait of Hormuz
The leaders discussed the need to "end the disruption to global shipping", No 10 says.
cnbc.com
Bank stocks have been crushed this year. 2 of our names should weather the storm
The businesses of Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo should be largely insulated from the three major headwinds facing the industry.
theguardian.com
Oil company shares soar to all-time highs as Middle East war turbocharges price per barrel
Energy supply shock from US-Israeli attack on Iran fuels record valuations for Shell, ExxonMobil and ChevronBeyond the strait: why attacks on Kargh Island could keep oil prices highShares in big oil companies have soared to all-time highs since the war in Iran began and sparked historic price rises on global oil and gas markets.The combined market value of the six stock market-listed western “super majors” has soared by more than $130bn in the two weeks since the first US-Israeli attacks on Iran. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Trump’s call for allied deployment to strait of Hormuz meets muted response
UK and Japan among countries that are considering options but yet to commit warships to blockaded shipping routeMiddle East crisis – live updatesCountries including the UK, Japan, China and South Korea have said they are still considering their options but without making commitments after the US president, Donald Trump, urged them to send warships to the strait of Hormuz to secure the vital shipping route.In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump called on the UK, China, France, Japan, South Korea and other countries to send ships to the waterway, the world’s busiest shipping route, which is being violently blockaded by Iran. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Beyond the strait: why attacks on Kharg Island could keep oil prices high
Oil could pass 2008 record of $147.50 a barrel as damage and field closures risk compounding supply shock caused by Iran warAbout 20 miles off the coast of Iran lies the source of the petrostate’s economic lifeblood and the latest target of US military aggression: an 8 sq mile coral island through which nine in every 10 barrels of Iranian crude passes each day.The US president’s decision to launch a weekend attack on Kharg Island, the home of Iran’s processing hub and the heart of its economy, is an unsurprising counterstrike to the Iranian regime’s ongoing chokehold on the oil market’s trade artery. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Florida’s real estate ‘gold rush’ draws the super-rich as rising costs push others out
The luxury property surge fuels growth in Miami, but a poll finds many residents weighing an exit over housing and living costsTo a casual observer, everything in south Florida’s real estate garden is looking rosy. There’s a “gold rush” in Miami as ultra-wealthy buyers snap up mega-mansions and luxuriously appointed condos as soon as they hit the market; and the Guardian has also reported recently on the “Mamdani effect” of elite New Yorkers arriving in the sunshine state with bulging pocketbooks in search of a high-priced escape from the city’s new mayor.Yet alongside the boom, there are rumblings of a more troubling parallel reality. Undoubtedly, the billionaire class is helping to pump even more dollars into an already thriving Florida economy. But as prices rise and the less affluent find everything from housing and insurance to gas and groceries increasingly expensive, many are considering doing something about it. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
AI could give us our lives back – if we don’t blow it
Could we be at the beginning of a change never before seen by humans – allowing us to escape the drudgery of work?The other day I pulled into the parking lot of a client’s offices and in the spot next to me was a woman sitting in her car blasting music. She caught me looking and rolled down her window and said, “I’ll be inside in a minute … Just enjoying my last few moments of freedom!”Is this way we want to live? No, it’s not. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Cruel hoax’ or ‘work-life balance nirvana’: whatever happened to the four-day work week?
It has been years since the four-day work week was floated as a solution to everything from traffic congestion to burnout. So why aren’t we all doing it now?Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailDuring the global soul-searching that followed the rupture of Covid-19 lockdowns, one idea for how we might live better suddenly seemed plausible: the four-day work week.The model is simple but somewhat counterintuitive. Employees work fewer hours for the same salary while getting the same amount of (or even more) work done. Advocates say this is made possible by reducing meeting times, streamlining workflows and prioritising work more efficiently.Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Stout clobber? Guinness tie-up features £1,295 ‘pub carpet’ jumper
Brand enlists JW Anderson to help brew up 17-piece range of luxury fashionwear, from ‘beer towel’ shorts to branded trousers and topsYou too can look like a pub carpet – and for the bargain price of £1,295. Such sartorial elegance – perhaps an option for anyone stepping out to celebrate St Patrick’s Day this week – is the aesthetic love-child of a partnership between Guinness and the luxury clothing brand JW Anderson.The tie-up, launched earlier this month, allows fashionistas to get their hands on a range of Guinness wear that exploits the continuing metamorphosis of the “black stuff” from unfashionable pub staple to social media status symbol. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Global week ahead: Price pressure in the pipeline
Keeping inflation under control becomes a critical task for central banks.
bbc.com
We will intervene on energy bills if necessary, says Miliband
Oil and gas prices have surged due to the US-Israel war in Iran, with fears over the cost of living.
theguardian.com
Relief for some of Britain’s poorest lands at right moment to cushion Iran aftershocks | Heather Stewart
Timely end of two-child limit plus a healthy uptick in universal credit signals ‘life-changing’ boost to Britons most exposed to TrumpflationIt doesn’t involve warships, drones or strategic oil stocks, but one of Labour’s most potent weapons for containing the economic aftershocks from the Iran war for the UK is about to be unleashed: the scrapping of the two-child limit.If the cost of essential goods spikes as a result of high oil prices it is the poorest households who will be the most exposed. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Here’s the news from Iran – Donald Trump is making America lose wars again | Simon Tisdall
Humiliating failure now looms, as symbolically damaging to US global standing and national self-esteem as Afghanistan or IraqDonald Trump menaces the world. He’s global public enemy number one. He’s steadily losing the illegal war with Iran he started but cannot stop. His violence-addicted Israeli sidekick, Benjamin Netanyahu, is terrorising Lebanon. And ordinary people everywhere, their security threatened, face a huge economic bill for his reckless folly.Add Trump’s war-making to his daily debasing of democracy, appeasing of Russia, punitive tariffs, climate crisis denial and flouting of international law, and it’s clear this White House travesty has gone on long enough. Americans must put their house in order and act decisively to restrain someone who endangers us all. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
America needs a movement to curb billionaires' power | Steven Greenhouse
The country’s 900 billionaires have far too much influence over our government and economy. Here’s how we can reduce the power of the ultra-richNot a day goes by without some news about billionaires throwing their weight around to bend the system in their favor or about politicians giving them tax cuts, government contracts or pardons. In today’s new Gilded Age, the 900-plus billionaires in the US have far too much influence over our elections, our economy, our government policies and our news media, and it’s urgent for Americans to create a movement to curb their power in order to preserve what’s left of our democracy and assure we have an economy with some basic fairness.It’s deeply troubling that billionaires have far more power in shaping our nation’s politics and policies than do average Americans, whether they’re auto workers, teachers, nurses, carpenters or supermarket cashiers. What’s more, it’s deeply disturbing that so many billionaires support the most authoritarian president in US history, whether by donating to his campaign or his gilded ballroom.Steven Greenhouse is a journalist and author, focusing on labour and the workplace, as well as economic and legal issues Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘The chef is a metre away from you’: the cosy allure of micro-restaurants
Tiny eateries such as the award-winning Gwen in Wales, which holds just eight customers, are spreading across the UKIt started with the portion sizes, as all-you-can-eat buffets were reduced to bite-size small plates. Then the menus started to decrease, with pages of dishes shrinking to an A5 sheet of paper.Now restaurants are undergoing another round of downsizing. Micro-restaurants, which usually seat fewer than 20 people, are gradually spreading across the UK. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘DM your details’: Travellers warned of scam airline accounts as Iran war disrupts flights
Criminals exploiting Middle East crisis by targeting customers seeking help or refunds from affected carriersYour flight has been delayed as a result of the Middle East crisis and you want to find out what’s happening, so you go online for an answer. You find a social media account run by the airline you are booked with and post a question, and get a reply offering help.You’re asked to send a direct message with details, which seems reasonable. A conversation starts and you are told to give your phone number as you may be due compensation. This is where it all starts going wrong: instead of being given money, you have it taken. Although it looked official, the account that replied was a scam. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Banknotes, beavers and a very British backlash
Politicians are furious Churchill will be replaced on banknotes. The RSPCA wants rats and pigeons to feature.
bbc.com
'Gruesome' war bets fuel calls for crackdown on prediction markets
Predictions markets have hosted millions of dollars of bets related to the war in Iran.
bbc.com
Trump urges UK and other nations to send warships to Strait of Hormuz
The US president says he hopes China, France, Japan and South Korea will also send ships to defend the key oil shipping route.
theguardian.com
This CEO warns that Democratic voters are most at risk from automation | Arwa Mahdawi
Palantir’s CEO says the platforms will have a vast effect on the electoral landscape … especially women. Is it a warning or a sales pitch?Don’t you just love AI? It has inundated the internet with slop, destabilized the concept of truth, and made it much easier to bomb people. And that’s just the beginning. As we look towards the future of our brave new world, AI might also disrupt all those pesky highly-educated female voters who keep casting a ballot for Democrats.To be clear: that assessment isn’t coming from me, a highly exhausted female who wishes the Democrats would work a little harder for people’s votes. Rather, it’s coming from one of the key architects of our glorious AI-driven economy: Alex Karp, the co-founder and CEO of tech firm Palantir.Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Daylight robbery’: M1 drivers boggle at the rising price of fuel
Woodall services near Sheffield is now one of the UK’s most expensive pit stops, with petrol at 172.9p a litreMiddle East crisis – live updatesOpened in 1968, Woodall services on the M1 near Sheffield is Yorkshire’s oldest roadside service station. This weekend, it was also one of the country’s most expensive pit stops, with diesel priced at 185.9p a litre and petrol at 172.9p.“Do you really want to know what I think? You probably couldn’t print it,” said biker Alan Harrison, who had stopped for a coffee break in the sunshine while heading from Leeds to Bournemouth. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How the war in Iran and its economic fallout could lead to Trump’s defeat
The war is deeply unpopular, and the spike in oil prices will mean long-term high prices across the board for AmericansDonald Trump is still high on the capture of Nicolás Maduro. The easy abduction of the Venezuelan president didn’t just grant Trump control of the nation’s oil and critical minerals resources. It allowed him to throttle the government of Cuba by denying it access to energy, raising the tantalizing prospect that he might bring down a communist regime that has annoyed Washington since 1959.Trump is confident that his joint venture with Israel in Iran will do just as well. The barrage of Iranian missiles and drones aimed at Israel and Iran’s Arab neighbors has done nothing to change Trump’s mind that he can win, regardless of how he defines “winning”. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Gas prices are soaring – but one Los Angeles gas station is taking it to the extreme
A Chevron station just outside downtown charges more than $8 a gallon – nearly $3 more than the city’s averageIt’s tempting to think that a gas station charging more than $8 a gallon is a glamorous Los Angeles curiosity. Sort of like shopping at Erewhon, the healthy grocery chain that wows with a premium experience – and commands up to $22 a smoothie.But there’s no glamour at the 901 N Alameda Street station. It’s just a dingy Chevron on the edge of LA’s Chinatown, regularly featured in news stories to illustrate the high cost of fuel in California. Midday on Tuesday, the station charged $8.31 for a gallon of regular gas. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Worst nightmare’: anger and frustration as Gulf states bear brunt of war they did not start
Closure of strait of Hormuz puts pressure on region’s economies amid growing resentment about conflict started by US and IsraelMiddle East crisis – live updatesAn eerie quiet hangs over Ras Al Khaimah’s industrial port. Usually a thriving maritime hub of the United Arab Emirates, now ships stand docked and silent. Not far out along the hazy horizon, a backlog of hundreds of tankers have lined up in recent days, halted along a waterway flooded with danger.Any vessel heading past Ras Al Khaimah out to the Arabian Sea must traverse the world’s most treacherous strip of water for shipping today: the strait of Hormuz. Just over 20 nautical miles from Ras Al Khaimah, two oil tankers heading for the strait were attacked by Iranian missiles this week, one catching fire. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Meta and Google trial: are infinite scroll and autoplay creating addicts?
Features woven into the fabric of platforms have been central to landmark social media harm case in US. How do they work?It was as “easy as ABC”, claimed the lawyer prosecuting a landmark social media harm case against Meta and Google which heard closing arguments this week. The defendants were guilty, said Mark Lanier, of “addicting the brains of children”. Not true, replied the tech companies. Meta insisted providing young people with a “safer, healthier experience has always been core to our work”.Features such as autoplay videos, infinite scrolling and constantly chirruping alerts woven into the fabric of online platforms were central to the six-week trial in Los Angeles, which has been compared to the cases against tobacco companies in the 1990s. But how do these features work and what are their consequences? Are they creating addicts rather than users or are they just giving consumers more of what they want? Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Everything is going up’: Americans struggle with affordability despite Trump’s claims
US workers are finding it difficult to afford basic necessities as the president claims ‘the economy is roaring back’US workers are still struggling with the cost of living despite Donald Trump’s campaign promises to fix the US affordability crisis.The Guardian spoke to workers as an exclusive poll showed cross-party concerns about the Trump administration’s handling of the US economy. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Chancellor to offer support over rising heating oil costs
Rachel Reeves says the Treasury is also looking at "different options" to help households most vulnerable to soaring energy bills.
bbc.com
She spent 16 hours on Instagram in a day. It's up to a jury to decide if Meta is to blame
A landmark lawsuit will set the stage for thousands of people who say social media platforms are intentionally addictive.
bbc.com
We're not profiteering on fuel. But my staff still face abuse
Independent retailer Goran Raven says the higher oil price is "horrific" for him as well as his customers.
bbc.com
Judge says 'no evidence' to justify Federal Reserve probe
Jeanine Pirro said she would appeal the ruling, which blocks the subpoenas she issued to the central bank.
theguardian.com
UK petrol retailers claim ‘inflammatory language’ of ministers led to staff abuse
Trade body attends meeting with Rachel Reeves, hours after saying it was pulling out over suggestions of price gouging• Watchdog puts UK fuel retailers ‘on notice’ over profiteering from Iran warThe trade body for the UK’s petrol station industry has got into a row with the government after claiming the “inflammatory language” used by ministers to describe rising pump prices may have incited abuse against forecourt staff.The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) said ministers had for several days suggested that forecourts might be “price gouging” and “ripping off” motorists as global oil markets have surged in response to the war in Iran. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on changes to copyright laws: authors should be protected over big tech | Editorial
Writers are voicing their anger at AI theft of their work with ‘Human Authored’ logos and an empty book. The government must listenIn a scene that might have come from a dystopian novel, books were being stamped with “Human Authored” logos at this week’s London Book Fair. The Society of Authors described its labelling scheme as “an important sticking plaster to protect and promote human creativity in lieu of AI labelled content in the marketplace”.Visitors to the fair were also being given copies of Don’t Steal This Book, an anthology of about 10,000 writers including Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro, Malorie Blackman, Jeanette Winterson and Richard Osman, in which the pages are completely blank. The back cover states: “The UK government must not legalise book theft to benefit AI companies.” The message is clear: writers have had enough.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
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Petrol retailers in row with government over 'rip off' accusations
They briefly threatened to pull out of a government meeting, accusing ministers of using "inflammatory language" over rising fuel prices.
theguardian.com
Making affordable housing a distant prospect | Letter
The towns newly crowned as ‘affordable’ are simply the latest recipients of metropolitan overflow, says Richard EltringhamYour piece on “affordable commuter hotspots” was a welcome reminder that, in Britain, affordability is now a theoretical concept best observed from a moving train (Revealed: the new affordable commuter hotspots in Great Britain, 7 March). Only here could a house become “affordable” the moment you attach a season ticket priced like a minor surgical procedure. It’s the sort of logic that would make sense only to someone who has never attempted either.We’ve quietly accepted that the solution to unaffordable housing is … distance. Not building homes, not reforming planning, just encouraging people to live far enough away that the numbers look respectable on a spreadsheet. The towns newly crowned as “affordable” are simply the latest recipients of metropolitan overflow, rewarded with more commuters and none of the infrastructure. Continue reading...
bbc.com
UK economy flatlines in January as people cut back on eating out
Analysts had been expecting 0.2% growth for the UK economy at the beginning of the year.
bbc.com
New US trade probe targets EU, Canada, UK over forced labour
The US said it would examine whether countries are effectively blocking goods made with "forced labour".
bbc.com
US easing of Russia oil sanctions draws criticism
Leaders in Europe and Canada have pushed back against Washington's move to allow Russia to sell stranded oil.
bbc.com
Why has Trump eased sanctions on Russian oil - and will it help Putin?
The US said easing sanctions on Russian oil would provide only a limited financial boost to Putin.
bbc.com
Why both partners need to be across a couple's money
Martin Lewis explains why both partners in a relationship need to know what financial products they hold.
cnbc.com
Who is really footing the AI energy bill? Inside the debate about data center electricity costs
The hyperscalers racing to build the data centers needed for the AI boom have a PR crisis on their hands, but the industry is not taking the problem lying down.
bbc.com
What on earth is going on with the oil price?
Oil price moves have made headlines since the Iran conflict started - but why have there been such sharp swings?
bbc.com
Dharshini David: Economy on shaky ground even before Iran war
The government's hopes that 2026 would be the year when growth picks up are at risk of being scuppered.
bbc.com
'My hotel bill is £12,000': British holidaymakers stranded by Iran war
Flights are restricted due to the conflict leaving people stuck running up bills for rooms and food.
bbc.com
Post Office scandal 'has taken 21 years of my life'
Seema Misra calls for accountability as a report by MPs raises concerns about ongoing delays.
theguardian.com
Dynasty: The Murdochs review – who cares which billionaire will control even more billions?
This Netflix’s documentary about Rupert’s warring children blurs the lines with HBO drama Succession. But, ultimately, it’s a depressing catalogue of nepotism that it’s hard to be enthused about‘To explain the Murdochs, you have to understand the television show Succession.” So quips New York Times writer Jim Rutenberg a few minutes into this four-part documentary about Rupert Murdoch’s empire – and, specifically, his children’s battle for control of it when he dies.It’s a canny opener. Jesse Armstrong’s series about media mogul Logan Roy and his warring children, thought to be based on the Murdochs, was a gripping smash hit, and this documentary is soon excitedly matching the eldest Murdoch siblings – independent Prudence from Rupert’s first marriage, dutiful favourite Lachlan, “problem child” James and brilliant but overlooked (pesky X chromosomes!) Elisabeth – to their Succession counterparts. (Rupert’s two younger daughters from his third marriage aren’t in the running.) But don’t be fooled: despite the suspenseful strings and off-key piano motifs, this is no Emmy-award-winning drama. Rather, it is an exhausting if exhaustive rundown of all things Murdoch, with the siblings’ manoeuvrings often the least interesting part. In the documentary, as in life, they are overshadowed by their dad.Dynasty: The Murdochs is on Netflix now Continue reading...
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PwC planning to increase the number of graduates it takes on
Last year the consultancy cut its graduate intake, but UK boss Marco Amitrano says it is still worth getting a degree.
bbc.com
Can Ukraine's war-torn wheatfields be cleansed?
Researchers take 8,000 soil samples from battlefields to see if it is safe to grow crops.
bbc.com
KPop Demon Hunters to return as Netflix announces sequel
The sequel brings back the co-directors of the first film, which was a smash-hit for the streaming service.
bbc.com
Can plastic-eating fungi help clean up nappy waste?
Cost and convenience have made disposable nappies dominant - can start-ups compete?
bbc.com
Why animals will replace historical figures on bank notes
British wildlife will replace historical figures on the next series of Bank of England banknote
cnbc.com
Trump raises the stakes on China with Section 301 trade probe, weeks before Beijing summit
Trump raises the stakes on China with Section 301 probe ahead of Beijing summit
cnbc.com
The two oil pipelines helping Saudi Arabia and UAE bypass the Strait of Hormuz
Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline and the UAE's Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline are thought to be able to help partially offset the Strait of Hormuz blockage.
bbc.co.uk
The Inquiry
How Poland’s economy became one of Europe’s fastest-growing success stories
bbc.com
A small US grocer is calling out the lower prices at big chains
It is 'impossible for us to compete', says the boss of a New York grocery store.
theguardian.com
How much worse could Iran war make the cost of living crisis? – The Latest
Rising oil prices and market turmoil as a result of the war in the Middle East are fuelling fears the cost of living crisis could get even tougher. Energy bills, mortgage rates and petrol prices could all surge in the fallout from the conflict. So how much could the war tighten the screws on our personal finances? Lucy Hough speaks to the deputy editor of the Guardian’s money section, Rupert Jones – watch on YouTubeHow will war in the Middle East affect your finances? Continue reading...
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The Aldi-style disruptors who could be about to shake up the vets market
As pet owners complain of rising prices, independent practices want to take on the big chains.
bbc.com
GPS jamming: The invisible battle in the Middle East
GPS jamming has made navigation hazardous in the Gulf, spurring efforts to develop alternatives.
bbc.com
Spain's migrants welcome amnesty: 'It will help us in every way'
Madrid cites humanitarian and economic reasons to give undocumented workers legal status.
bbc.com
Can snacks help you sleep?
Chocolates, bars, gummies and drinks promise to help you sleep, but is the science behind them sound?
bbc.com
We have more privacy controls yet less privacy than ever
Has online privacy become "a luxury not a right" for us all in 2026?
bbc.com
Know when to fold them: the tech inspired by origami
Origami techniques can add strength to structures without adding bulk.
bbc.com
Deepfake attack: 'Many people could have been cheated'
The boss of the Bombay Stock Exchange was recently targeted in what is a growing global problem.
bbc.com
Why you can't get a signal at festivals and sports matches
Connecting up music and sports events to the internet is a massive undertaking.
bbc.com
The family-owned soda firm that still uses returnable glass bottles
Soft drinks company Twig's Beverage has a loyal following for its old-fashioned approach.
cnbc.com
Register now: Applications open for the World's Top Fintech Companies 2026
CNBC and Statista chart the top fintech players from around the world, ranging from startups to Big Tech names.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
bbc.com
Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour?
Three days in, after a tax U-turn and partial climbdown on workers' rights, Laura Kuenssberg looks at what impact Budget week might have.
bbc.com
Has Britain's budget watchdog become too all-powerful?
Ahead of this week's Budget, some have accused the Office for Budget Responsibility of being a "straitjacket on growth"
bbc.com
The curious case of why Poundland is struggling during a cost-of-living crisis
Why - in an age where so many of us are feeling the financial pinch - are some budget shops on UK high streets having such a tough time?
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